By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Operatives of the Anambra Police Command have gunned down two notorious kidnappers in Ichida, Anaocha Local Area of the state.

This is coming barely 24 hours of CP Aderemi Adeoye’s assumption of office in the state.

Disclosing this to newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Amawbia in the Awka South Local Government Area of the state, Adeoye said he would make the state uncomfortable for criminals and suitable, but, suitable for law abiding citizens.

He vowed that under his watch, the South-East geopolitical zone would be a hot place to be for any criminal.

While saying that he is not in the habit of telling criminals to relocate from the state, he said, “We will not create problems for neighbouring states; so it’s not relocate; we have all it takes to deal with them here in Anambra State and we will deal with them squarely unless they turn a new leaf.

“And we have no delight in any one lose their lives but if that is what it takes to protect the people of Anambra State, we will not stop at no obstacle to achieve this mandate given to us by the Inspector General of Police.

“We will secure the people of Anambra State; we’ll serve them to the best of our ability; we’ll ensure that life has value and nobody takes away their fundamental human rights to life. That’s reason for our existence and we are determined to fulfill this constitutional role.

He expressed gratitude to the people of Anambra for their cooperation, which he noted has started yielding handsome dividends.

Adeoye added: “What that is before you today, is stack of arms and ammunition recovered and what is behind you in terms of vehicles – a three SUVs recovered and two kidnappers shot dead – are outcomes of that unique partnership between people and law enforcements.

The CP added: “The weapons, recoveries achievements were recorded only in the last 24 hours. Yesterday night, being 11^th July, 2923, at about 8.30 in the evening in our parlance that’s 20.30 hours along Uga – Ezinifite Expressway, our men at the Aguata operating base while on anti- kidnapping patrol given past experiences and knowledge of time these gangs operate accosted two SUVs that were driving on very, very dangerous speed.

“Efforts to slow these vehicles down resulted in gunshots being rained on the operatives. Being trained, as they were, they quickly took cover and returned fire. At the end of the day, the demobilized the convoy of the vehicles and sustained the gun fight and they overpowered the hoodlums who seized the hour of darkness to flee from the scene into the surrounding bushes.

“And when eventually they (operatives) gained control of the situation, and advanced on the vehicles, they found those vehicles heavily blood-stained and these weapons you are seeing on my left were recovered from the vehicles: the two pump action guns and 11 cartridges, and this was the number of the first vehicle that was recovered- highlander jeep ash colour.

“Almost at the same time, the vigilante men at Ichida sent a distress call that they were having exchange of fire with another gang of kidnappers and the DPO and his men raised a team to reinforce the vigilante men because of the existing partnership and synergy between the police in Anambra State and vigilante groups.

“On arriving at the scene, they found out that these criminals were heavily armed. In partnering with the vigilante and deploying superior tactics, the joint team of the vigilante and our men overwhelmed these kidnappers, killing two of them and recovering these weapons: one AK47 riffle with double magazines, two pump action guns and 7.6mm ammunition.

“Other items found in the vehicles are in this wallet; and these are some of ATMs and ID cards which will aid investigation.”

The CP further commended the Anambra State Government for creating social avenue to empower the youths and other persons in the state to reduce crimes.

According to him, the DPO of the B-Division in Awka, close to the State Secretariat, had been removed over sundry infractions and allegations.

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